Tucked away in a discreet street off Plaza San Diego, is a small bar, blessed with funky decor, a sinfully good bar-team and plenty of food and drink temptations to sate all your vices.

This bar is called La Beata; a space that is ambitiously trying to change the way people in Cartagena imbibe. Unlike other venues in town, the focus isn't on whole-bottle sales, but on expertly crafted cocktails. Mixologist and founder, Mauricio Mejia, has worked in some of the world's best bars, including some fancy bar in London that I was impressed by at the time but now I can't remember the name. The point is, he knows his liquor. Mauricio is using this knowledge to mix up tasty cocktails that appear on the menu in various levels of saintliness.

I guess I should've explained, probably somewhere near the start, that "La Beata" translates as "the beatified", so hence all the holy, blessed, canonized, sacred, sanctified references. It also explains all the super cool custom paintings of some of history's best expired musicians that line the walls, honorably beatified with the addition of golden halos. The rest of the decor is just as compelling. Old-school light bulbs and their orange cables tangle above the bar in a wonderful blend of form and function. While the tables come capped with real candle chandeliers, dripping their wax decoratively and evoking catholic school girl memories of confessionals and choirs. Maybe that's just me?

Pretty soon you're having so much fun, knocking back cocktails, chatting to Mauricio, people watching, grooving on your bar stool to the cool tunes or the live music that is frequently on offer (a bonus of the bar being situated across from the University of Fine Arts and attracting a bunch of talented musos) that you realise you've missed your dinner reservation. About this time you start spying some seriously impressive plates being passed from the tiny kitchen. "I'll have what she's having", you quickly demand.

The food menu, developed by renowned Chef Charlie Quijano, is still being finalised.. the daily specials are constantly evolving and revolving, but everything I've tried has been pretty spot-on. They call it “Nueva Cocina Colombiana"; taking inspiration from Colombian classic dishes, but elevating them to a fine-dining standard. There's been the ubiquitous streetfood butifarra, given a very high-end makeover. Some handmade fishballs in a super rich coconut-based sauce. And a potato tortilla just like they make it in Spain. All perfect for sharing.

Looking around, there's a very pretty crowd doing just that. Charming Mauricio is a firm fixture in Cartagena's A-List, so it makes sense that the high society sorts have made his bar a favourite stop on the city's social circuit. Given it's location, La Beata is also attracting some of the stylish guests of luxury hotel, Santa Clara. Pop in for a drink here, and you're rubbing shoulders (flirting, exchanging numbers etc) with the cream of the crop.

The bar was only recently opened, so it's still something of an insider-secret for savvy locals and those lucky enough to stumble through its hallowed doors. But with such quality on offer, expect the word to get out very soon.